Well, I had just got out from the county prison
Doin' ninety days for non-support
Tried to find me an executive position
But no matter how smooth I talked
They wouldn't listen to the fact that I was a genius
The man say, "We got all that we can use"
Now I got them steadily depressin', low down mind messin'
Working at the car wash blues

Well, I should be sittin' in an air conditioned office in a swivel chair
Talkin' some trash to the secretaries
Sayin', "Here, now mam-ma, come on over here"
Instead, I'm stuck here rubbin' these fenders with a rag
And walkin' home in soggy old shoes
With them steadily depressin', low down mind messin'
Workin' at the car wash blues

You know a man of my ability
He should be smokin' on a big cigar
But till I get myself straight I guess I'll just have to wait
In my rubber suit a-rubbin' these cars

Well, all I can do is a shake my head
You might not believe that it's true
For workin' at this end of Niagara Falls
Is an undiscovered Howard Hughes
So baby, don't expect to see me
With no double martini in any high-brow society news
'Cause I got them steadily depressin', low down mind messin'
Workin' at the car wash blues
Yeah, I got them steadily depressin', low down mind messin'
Workin' at the car wash blues